Opening of the trial of Ratko Mladic

International Federation for Human Rights, Opening of the trial of Ratko Mladic, 15 May 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4fbb8e661a.html [accessed 31 March 2015]

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Last Update 15 May 2012

Tomorrow the trial of Ratko Mladić will open before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Mladić is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995, when he was Commander of the Main Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS).

"The trial of the former most famous European fugitive, almost twenty years after heinous crimes, including the Srebrenica massacre, were committed at the very heart of Europe, is a decisive step for the thousands of victims who seek justice", said Patrick Baudouin, FIDH Honorary President and coordinator of its Litigation Action Group (LAG). "This is a strong signal to senior political and military leaders who commit serious violations of human rights, reminding them that they are to be held accountable for their acts before an independent and fair tribunal," he added.

For this trial to have the most possible impact, FIDH calls for the implementation by the ICTY of a major communication and outreach strategy towards victims and affected communities.